Zcash Enters European Regulated Markets with First ETP Listing

European asset manager 21shares has launched the region's first exchange-traded product tied to Zcash, marking a major milestone for the privacy coin in regulated markets.

The physically backed Zcash ETP is listed on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam, allowing investors to gain exposure to ZEC without holding the cryptocurrency directly. The ETP has an annual management fee of 2.5%, which is higher than many Bitcoin and Ether investment products in Europe.

This move follows the launch of the Grayscale Zcash ETF in the United States, which trades on NYSE Arca under the ticker ZCSH. Zcash's recent surge past $1,500 and its 1,100% gain over the past year have brought renewed attention to its potential as a Bitcoin alternative.

Grayscale head of research Zach Pandl has argued that Zcash could benefit from 'second-mover advantages' that may help it overcome Bitcoin's entrenched network effects. This concept suggests that new cryptocurrencies can learn from and build upon existing networks, rather than trying to compete directly with them.